Write One Page Per Day – 144/365 – May 24, 2018

Marcus watched the bird closely, watching as it struggled to cling to life. He felt a knot in his stomach when the bird stopped moving. The vet arrived fifteen minutes later and, after a brief conversation, took the bird with him.

“Dad?” A tiny voice said from around the doorway.

“Hey, buddy. Come in here for a second.” Marcus said.

Dylan walked slowly into the room, stopping five feet from his father.

“Is the bird going to be okay?” He asked.

Marcus shook his head, “No, buddy. The vet didn’t make it in time.”

“I’m so sorry!” Dylan exploded, crumpling into an emotionally charged pile of six-year-old on the kitchen floor.

Marcus walked over, picked Dylan up gently, and cradled him as he walked into the living room.

Marcus sat with Dylan until he calmed down.

“Am I in trouble?” Dylan asked, looking up at his father with wet eyes.

“I think we should have a talk.” Marcus said, “I think it’s time that I explained some rules that I live by. It might help you to make better decisions next time.”

Dylan nodded.

“My dad, your Grampa, told me to live my life by one simple rule, to treat other people the way I wanted to be treated. Do you know what that means?” Marcus asked.

“If I want you to be nice to me, I should be nice?” Dylan asked.

“That’s right.” Marcus said, “Now, since then I’ve changed that rule a little. I treat everything the way I want to be treated. Things in our home, you, mommy, the people at work, the animals outside, everything.

“So using my rule, what should you do the next time you see a bird in the yard?”

“Not throw the ball at it.” Dylan said, looking down again.

“Why do you not throw the ball?”

“Because it could hurt the bird.” Dylan answered.

“Because you wouldn’t like it if someone threw a ball at you, right?” Marcus asked.